Profitability of Selected Winter Vegetables and Its Market Outlet for Commercial Farmers: Evidence from Mymensingh District

Abstract

This study has attempted to examine the profitability of commercially grown cauliflower and cabbage and its market outlet. The study is based on primary data collected in January 2021 from vegetables producers through face-to-face interview method using structured interview schedule. In total 80 commercial farmers (i.e., 40 farmers from each vegetable) were selected purposively from Sadar upazila of Mymensingh district. Tabular and descriptive analyses were used to determine the cost and returns of vegetables cultivation by commercial farmers. Least significant difference (LSD) of multiple comparisons of mean was applied to determine profitable market outlets for cauliflower and cabbage. The study found that both cauliflower and cabbage cultivation were profitable. The per hectare gross costs of cauliflower and cabbage production and marketing by farmers were Tk. 1,93,535 and Tk. 1,95,864, respectively and the corresponding net returns were Tk. 90,329 and Tk. 90,981. Three different market outlets (farm gate, local market, and district market) were found where farmers sold their cauliflower and cabbage. Farmers who sold their cauliflower and cabbage from district market outlet gained maximum net returns, which were Tk.1,31,093 and Tk. 1,07,221, respectively. The results of LSD test established that among the three market outlets, the mean net return earned by selling cauliflower and cabbage to district market is higher than the mean net return earned by selling to farm gate market. Therefore, district market outlet is significantly more profitable outlet for both cauliflower and cabbage. However, most of the farmers chose farm gate market for selling their cabbage and cauliflower because they feel comfortable to sell their vegetables from farm gate area.